By: Jay Garneau
SPRINGFIELD—The Ohio Northern baseball team couldn't overcome defensive miscues, allowing four unearned runs in a 6-4 non-conference loss to Wittenberg at Carleton Davidson Stadium on Thursday night.
The Polar Bears fall to 13-20 overall, while the Tigers move above .500 with a 20-19 record.
Junior Devin Kisor reached base four times to lead ONU, going 3-for-4 with a double, walk and run scored, while senior Eric Yunker had two hits and a walk, extending his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games.
ONU scored an unearned run in the first, when Yunker reached on an error and then scored on a second straight error, giving Northern a 1-0 lead.
In the third, freshman Dan Belliveau and Yunker started the inning with a single and walk.
Junior Cory Martin then hit an RBI single and sophomore Daniel Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 3-0.
The Tigers tied the game with three runs on a bunt single, walk, ONU error and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.
Northern retook the lead the next half inning, as Kisor led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by sophomore Brian Thomas, eventually scoring on an RBI fielder's choice from Belliveau.
An ONU throwing error and a Zac Wilson RBI single once again knotted up the game, this time at 4-4.
A successful squeeze bunt in the sixth gave Tim Little the go-ahead RBI, as Wittenberg took a 5-4 lead.
Wittenberg scored the last run of the game on a passed ball in the seventh.
Zach Finke (5-3) was dominating out of the bullpen for the Tigers, throwing 4.0 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out four to earn the win.
Both starters received a no decision, as freshman Brett Wonders allowed four runs (one earned) over 5.0 innings for ONU and Andy Sharek allowed four runs (three earned) over 5.0 innings for Wittenberg.
Sophomore Logan Schwerer took the loss for ONU, allowing two runs (one earned) in 2.0 innings in relief.
Junior Craig Leopold also tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for Northern.
The Polar Bears will return to Ohio Athletic Conference play on Saturday, hosting Muskingum in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.